paxson



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. H. PAXSON.

A TEDDEB, PORK. No. 377,047. Patented Jan. 31, 1888.

nuunnnmlllu WITJV'ESSE IJVVEJV TOR mf-M, Zwfmwk RRA/.Attorneys C. H, PAXSON.

TBDDBR PORK.

No. 377,047. Patented 16.11.31, 1888.

{ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N. PETERS. Phmwmhagrnphr, wnsnmgmn. D. c.

CHARLES H. PAXSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TEDDER- FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,047, dated January 31, 1838.

' Application filed 'November 23, 1885. Serial No. 183,677. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern: is fastened to the hook G, in the manner above Be it known that I, CHARLES H. PaxsoN, a suggested, at one end, and at the other to a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Springsimilar hook, G, in a similar manner. The eld, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, distance between the normal position of the 5 haveinventedcertain newand useful Improvebend E and the upper pivotal point of the ments in Tedder-Forks, of which the following` spring being shorter than the actual length of is a specification, reference being had therein the spring itself, the latter is caused to assume to the accompanying drawings. a curve, as indicated in Fig. l, the advantage This invention relates to certain new and of which will appear in the description of the 6o 1c useful improvements in tedderlforks, as will portion hereinafter appearing.

be hereinafter pointed out. It is obvious that various forms of hooks can In the accompanying drawings, forming be adopted, that the manner of connecting the part of this specification, and on which like spring with the hooks may be varied, and that reference-letters indicate the same features, the success of the device does not depend upon 65 Figure l represents a side elevation of the the use of a spiral spring or a serpentine lower portion of atedder-fork arm, showing a Spring, as any other spring would answer the fork and my improvement applied thereto; same purpose, though the spiral spring is the Fig. 2, a transverse sectional View of the tedpreferred kind, since it possesses two yielding der-fork arm, showing a plan view of coupqualities-first, that of bending, and,secondly, 7o 2o ling-iron; Fig. 3, a View of the tedder-fork that of compressing as the bending takes and connecting-hook, looking in the direction place. of the arrow shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 4,aside The form of spring next preferred after a elevation showing modied forms of springs. spiral spring is a serpentine spring, as seen at The letter A designates a tcdder-fork arm A in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This form of 7 5 of any approved type, to which are bolted or spring more nearly possesses the characterisotherwise secured the journal-plates B, which tics of a spiral spring,because itsomewhat commay also be of any suitable character. presses when the fork is thrown from normal The letter C designates the fork proper, the position. The spring shown at A in Fig. 4, same consisting of the prongs D and the U- while possessing the quality of bending, does 8o 3o shaped bend E, the cross portion F of which notpossess that of compressing, but still is useis preferably made straight, so as to afford a ful in the connection in which it is shown. better surface for the engagement of the con- The reason the action of the spring on the neeting-hook, presently to be described. This fork gradually diminishes is because as the fork is mounted in any convenient manner in fork rises and approaches its dead-center the 3 5 the bearing-plates B. leverage or control of the spring over it lessons The letter G indicates a connecting-hook, according to a well-known principle in the preferably constructed of malleable iron, and operation of cranks. The force exerted by adapted to engage the cross portion F of the the spring itselfneed not necessarily diminish; bend E, and having a shank with a spirally' but that force is applied to the crank, as above oo 4o grooved exterior to afford ameans of connectsuggested, at a constantly-decreasing leverage ing the spring therewith. The hook also has by reason of its approach to a dead-center. a projecting plate, H, which rests upon the The letter J indicates a eouplingiron, con- U-shaped bend and prevents the spring from sisting of the side pieces, K, and the pintle L, forcing the fork beyond a given position in as also of a bolt, M, a portion of which is pref- 45 the direction of the arrow a, thus serving the erably angular to prevent the coupling from function of a stop, and not only that, but a turning. The coupling is also by preference yielding stop, the advantage of which latter provided with projecting spurs N,which take attribute is to permit the ,fork to yield rearinto the tedder-fork arm and assist in preventwardly in case the forward side meets with an ing the coupling from turning out of line with roo. 5o obstruction while the machine is advancing. the hook G. The position ofthe pintle L with The letter I indicates a spiral spring, which respect to the bolt M is eccentric, the object of which is to shortenthe distance between the pivotal points of the spring when the latter shall have become somewhat shortened by the compression due to usage, the space being shortened by turning the coupling J in a re-V verse position to that shown in Fig. l. This coupling is preferably constructed of malleable iron. l

In operation,when the fork proper meets with an obstruction, the spring will give and allow the fork to yield ground in the manner above described until it has reached the limit and assumed the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, when the spring will have also assumed the position and shape also shown in dotted lines in that figure. As the fork is thrown out of'normal position, the plate H gradually recedes from the bend E and swings out of the way, as seen in dotted lines, and allows the bend to travel near to the tedder-fork arm andv permit full swing to the fork. As soon as the fork is released from an obstruc` tion,the springinstantly returns it to operative position, the plate H terminating that position. The constant pressure of the spring prevents the disengagement of the hooks and the rattling of the parts. The hooks being made open, the device is quickly and cheaply put together.

I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to any special form of construction, as that may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Eyes may be used in lieu of the hooks, if desired7 and the pintle L made to slip into holes in the plates K.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a tedder, the combination, with a tedder-arm and a distinct tedder-fork pivoted to the arm, of a spring pivotally connected to said fork at one end and pivoted at the other end to the said arm,of greater length than the greatest distance between its connection with the arm and its connection with the fork, and arranged in such a manner that the'leverage of the spring gradually diminishes as the fork turns in its mountings and moves its point away from the ground.

2. In a tedder, the combination, with the tedder-arm and a fork pivotally connected thereto, of a spiral spring pivotallyconnectcd to the fork at one end and pivoted at its other end to the said arm,of greater length than the greatest distance between its connection with the fork and the arm7 and arranged in such a manner that the leverage of the spring gradually diminishes as the fork turns. in its mountings and moves its point away from the ground.

Y 3. In a tedder, the combination, with the tedder-arm, of a fork pivoted thereto and having a bend projecting substantially ata right angle from the upper end thereof, and a spring pivotally connected with the said tedder-arm and pivotally connected with the bend of the fork and of greater length than the greatest distance between said bend and the point of connection of the spring with the arm.

4. In a tedder, the combination,with the fork having a bend projecting substantially at a right angle from the upper end thereof, of a spring pivotally connected with the said bend and having a pivotal connection with the forkarm, and a stop or projection extending from the spring adapted to bear upon said bend as the spring straightens, the spring being of greater length than the greatest distance between the said bend and the pivotal connection of the spring with the arm.

5. Inatedder, the combinatiomwith the fork arm, of a fork pivoted thereto and having a U shaped bend projecting substantially at right angles therefrom, and a spiral spring having connecting-hooks which respectivelypivotally engage with the said bend and with the forkarm.

6. In a tedder, the combination, with the pivoted fork having a Ushaped bend projecting at an angle therefrom, of a couplingiron secured to the redder-fork arm above the fork, and a spiral spring having hooks which engage, respectively, the said bend in the fork and the coupling-iron, one of said hooks having a stop or projection adapted to bear upon said bend as the spring straightens.

7. In a tedder, the combination,with a pivoted fork having a U-shaped bend extending at a right angle therefrom, of a coupling-iron secured to the tedderfork arm above the fork, and a spiral spring having hooks which engage, respectively, with said bend and the coupling-iron, the spring being of greater length than the greatest distance between the bend and the coupling-iron, and one of said hooks having a stop or projection adapted to bear upon said bend as the spring straightens.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 

